Hi Benny - I've always felt that personal experience is a critical requirement for someone to have credibility in talking about mental health issues. Its unfortunate, but I find I have trouble accepting advice and help from people who dont have the 'scars' to prove that they have been through it and know exactly what its like.
I can imagine a similar thing applies to professional athletes - when it comes to talking about training, performance expectations and media scrutiny, you would probably only relate to someone who has been on the big stage and knows exactly what its like.
In this sense, you are a rare commodity - someone who has true credibility in the eyes of professional athletes to talk about mental health challenges. I dont think this status places any 'obligation' on you to engage in the issues publicly, but I would suggest putting yourself back in the shoes of Ben Alexander at the beginning of the year in 2010. If someone with your credibility was delivering this message in a public forum which would likely reach you, could it have helped you?
Youve mentioned the struggle to transition from pro athlete back to regular guy. What about when you transitioned from amateur rugby player to professional plyer at the brumbies? How did this go? What were some of the challenges? Thanks Alex
Great question Alex and it’s one I could best explain next Tuesday morning because it just sort of happened. I kept playing after school because I loved it, and kept going until one day I got good enough to be pro.
Regarding the content - slow it all down, I reckon.
You could pump out 100 twitter posts now, but they'll be in and out of the feed in a week at most.
Instead, I recommend sitting down and planning your blog posts and tweets out. Put them in a list of what you'd write about. Then schedule them in a content calendar (which is basically just a calendar saying when you'll send things out).
Dripping them out over time will give you the best chance to build a solid audience, and will help you be more consistent.
You could write 5 blog posts in a week and post them, or you could hold them back and publish 1 per week, at the same time, on the same day each week. People will know what to expect and they'll know that the blog is active because you're consistently showing up, rather than blasting out 5 posts then nothing for a week.
As for why people are interested, I can't speak for others, but here's why I keep reading:
a) I like rugby and love the Wallabies and you talk about rugby
b) You're a former professional athlete who is telling a different story than what we usually hear or imagine - that sports stars are living glamorous lives that are devoid of challenges.
You sent the message out on a much heavier populated platform in an easily digestible manner. That's why it resulted in a more significant reach.
You need to find a balance between your most comfortable format of sending the message and the format that will spread the message the furthest.
Interviews will allow you to reach more people with the message. However, you have to do what's best for you as well. If you want to continue to spread it, you need to spread it at a sustainable rate.
List the interview options and consider which ones are best suited to you. Which interviewers will you be most comfortable sharing your story with? Who do you think will publish it most authentically? Which of them has a greater reach to the demographic you are trying to reach?
Your right and I think I need to slow down and look at things objectively to figure out what’s the best course of action according to what I’m trying to achieve.
Yeah, tempting to just say yes to everything and dive ion head first. Smarter to assess each option and figure out which options align with the goal more.
Hi Benny - I've always felt that personal experience is a critical requirement for someone to have credibility in talking about mental health issues. Its unfortunate, but I find I have trouble accepting advice and help from people who dont have the 'scars' to prove that they have been through it and know exactly what its like.
I can imagine a similar thing applies to professional athletes - when it comes to talking about training, performance expectations and media scrutiny, you would probably only relate to someone who has been on the big stage and knows exactly what its like.
In this sense, you are a rare commodity - someone who has true credibility in the eyes of professional athletes to talk about mental health challenges. I dont think this status places any 'obligation' on you to engage in the issues publicly, but I would suggest putting yourself back in the shoes of Ben Alexander at the beginning of the year in 2010. If someone with your credibility was delivering this message in a public forum which would likely reach you, could it have helped you?
Thanks Paul and I agree there’s big difference in understanding before living something and studying something.
Hi Ben
Youve mentioned the struggle to transition from pro athlete back to regular guy. What about when you transitioned from amateur rugby player to professional plyer at the brumbies? How did this go? What were some of the challenges? Thanks Alex
ohhhhh good one Alex!
Great question Alex and it’s one I could best explain next Tuesday morning because it just sort of happened. I kept playing after school because I loved it, and kept going until one day I got good enough to be pro.
Remember to look after yourself first and go with your gut from there!
Hoo bloody roo!
Benny. Am jealous of your photo with the late HRH QE11 👑. I am a Monarchist. Have met both Her & the late DoE. But no cameras allowed. 😊👩🏼🦰 Helen.
Hey Ben,
Regarding the content - slow it all down, I reckon.
You could pump out 100 twitter posts now, but they'll be in and out of the feed in a week at most.
Instead, I recommend sitting down and planning your blog posts and tweets out. Put them in a list of what you'd write about. Then schedule them in a content calendar (which is basically just a calendar saying when you'll send things out).
Dripping them out over time will give you the best chance to build a solid audience, and will help you be more consistent.
You could write 5 blog posts in a week and post them, or you could hold them back and publish 1 per week, at the same time, on the same day each week. People will know what to expect and they'll know that the blog is active because you're consistently showing up, rather than blasting out 5 posts then nothing for a week.
As for why people are interested, I can't speak for others, but here's why I keep reading:
a) I like rugby and love the Wallabies and you talk about rugby
b) You're a former professional athlete who is telling a different story than what we usually hear or imagine - that sports stars are living glamorous lives that are devoid of challenges.
Good luck!
Ben
Helpful as always mate and will slow down to 1 thread on twitter a week. After all... it’s not a race!
The important thing here is the message.
You sent the message out on a much heavier populated platform in an easily digestible manner. That's why it resulted in a more significant reach.
You need to find a balance between your most comfortable format of sending the message and the format that will spread the message the furthest.
Interviews will allow you to reach more people with the message. However, you have to do what's best for you as well. If you want to continue to spread it, you need to spread it at a sustainable rate.
List the interview options and consider which ones are best suited to you. Which interviewers will you be most comfortable sharing your story with? Who do you think will publish it most authentically? Which of them has a greater reach to the demographic you are trying to reach?
Just thinking out loud here.
Your right and I think I need to slow down and look at things objectively to figure out what’s the best course of action according to what I’m trying to achieve.
Yeah, tempting to just say yes to everything and dive ion head first. Smarter to assess each option and figure out which options align with the goal more.
Hey Ben, I have recently reminded myself after experiencing some personal challenges that it is important to prioritise. I have come back to this gem.
https://resources.franklincovey.com/the-8th-habit/big-rocks-stephen-r-covey
You own the size of your rocks and what's most important to you.
Ridgey Didge! Thanks for that link mate and I hope all is well. You coming on any of Kiwi Dave’s tours?